I sat confidently with my arms resting on my laps in the midst of the audience knowing very well that I will eventually be called up stage. Obviously, as I believe you may know, my heart was racing more than Usain Bolt, which made me shiver like a lad taking a cold bath during an harmattan season.
When I finally mounted the stage with my legs still quivering as I managed to find my way through the crowd, I thought to myself as I took the microphone from the MC, “When it comes to pursuing passions and dreams, it's easy to get sidetracked by the opinions of others. We often seek validation and approval from those around us, but this will not only lead to distraction, but stagnation which will impede us from the many unforeseen opportunities. To truly achieve greatness, we must learn to focus on the task at hand and ignore the noise—all the naysayers around.
“People will always criticize and find fault—even when you think there’s nothing to talk about—this makes you human. It's essential to develop a thick skin and ignore negative comments. Remember, criticism is often a reflection of the critic's own limitations—not yours. As Steve Jobs once said, ‘The only way to do great work is to love what you do.’ When you're passionate about your work, you'll be less concerned with what others think—which is not important, except the few constructive ones. People are people and will remain that way—we all talk—and some of us overdo it to bring other people’s spirits down.
This wisdom carried me through the early stages of my organization. I literally turned my back to everybody who was not saying anything good or discouraging me one way or another. And when I turned my back, my team and I made it to the first school where we didn’t only impart the knowledge of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, but impacted the lives of the pupils in 2019.
I don’t know what happened, but I felt myself taking the microphone from the MC. As I held firmly onto the microphone with my hands shivering slightly, I lifted up my eye to watch the audience seated comfortably gazing at me like a Christmas tree and patiently waiting for me to speak, my head went blank—the fear from the crowd has distracted me. So for the next one to two minutes that I stood on the stage with every eye ball on me, I remember silently saying to myself, “Your project, passion, or purpose is like the orchestra—it requires you to turn your back to the audience to garner dedication and focus of every impact.
“You need to stay true to your vision and don't let others dictate your path. Surround yourself with supportive people who will encourage and motivate you to keep pushing forward. Practice self-discipline and perseverance, and remember that every great achievement requires hard work and determination—even when the journey seem to be blurry.
“Sam Levenson once said, ‘Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.’ Time will pass regardless of whether you're working towards your goals or not. So, keep moving forward, even when the crowd is against you. And remember, the only validation you need is from within—not from what other think or see you to be. Keep pushing forward, and the crowd will eventually follow.
“Leading an orchestra is a great metaphor for this concept. The conductor must turn their back to the crowd and focus on the music and musicians. If they were to constantly seek validation from the audience, they would lose sight of the music's rhythm and harmony. Similarly, in life, we must concentrate on what we are doing—on our goals and passions that we set out to achieve, rather than being swayed by external opinions—approval from others.
“Do your best and leave the rest for God. Always remember that your role in the game is as vital as completing the mission ahead of you. So, if you will listen to what others will say and not take intentional steps towards your goals—you will achieve nothing. As already established, people will by any means possible find fault with whatever you do, and it is supposed to be that because we are all not perfect angels sent from perfect heaven—we are mortal beings.
This is the trick I used to achieve whatever I have by the grace of God, and charting that same tactics to do more professionally and personally in life. You, too, can start, close your eyes to the way people see you which dims your spirits, and block your mind and ears from any pessimistic word from others. But, always make sure to humble yourself to listen and do what the constructive critics say—you can’t always see your full attitude, it takes someone to prompt you about a bad behavior.
Then with the audience’s curiosity growing and starting to become either confused or frustrated by what was beginning to happen, I turned my back to the audience—it transpired so fast without me even thinking through it—but at end, I was glad I did it. When I turned, I must believe a lot was happening behind me. I heard someone say, ‘what does he think he is doing,’ another woman’s voice shot out loud from the corner, ‘if you don’t know what you are doing, descend the stage.’ Then, a young boy from the third row in the front seats whispered, but I managed to hear, he said with excitement in his voice, ‘I can’t wait to see what the gentleman is about to do.’
Although I barely heard or even saw the demeaning expressions on the people’s faces, I still kept my composure and stood still till I found my voice, then I began to speak. I didn’t only speak my heart out because I wanted to get back at the people who thought I couldn’t, but I was able to do that solely for the acceptance of who I am and what I can do.
“Leadership is not about seeking validation from others, but about staying focused on your vision and goals. You have to go for what you want, do what you want to achieve, and then God will take over. It’s all about the first bold step, and the first decisive step can also be not thinking of what others are thinking or saying. You got this! As a leader, it's essential to 'turn your back to the crowd' and concentrate on what matters most.
I still remember that fateful day we went to the school to make an impact. I stood there with my arms folded, thinking solely about me, myself and I. A lot was running through my head as usual, but I paid no attention to any of them except how to deliver my assignment and walk out as if nothing happened.
In conclusion, turning your back to the crowd means focusing on what truly matters—your passions, goals, and purpose. By ignoring distractions and staying committed to your vision, you'll unlock your full potential and achieve greatness.
One of my all time motivational speakers, Myles Munroe said, “when you pursue something that is more important than the crowd, you end up leading the crowd.” So just have in mind that your goals are more important than what others think of you—so concentrate on that.
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#TurnYourBackToTheCrowd
#DoWhatYouLove
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#FollowYourDreams
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